Brundtland, who led three Labor Party governments in the 1980s and 1990s and is often called "mother of the nation", gave a speech on the island the day of the slaughter and left before Anders Behring Breivik arrived.

"Anders Behring Breivik had plans to come to Utoeya (island) while Gro Harlem Brundtland was visiting on Friday, but claims under interrogation that he was delayed," Aftenposten reported on Monday, citing unnamed sources.

The newspaper said the 32-year-old right-wing fanatic wanted to "hit Gro".

Brundtland, a Harvard-educated physician, has been a champion of social democratic policy approaches worldwide, and served as president of the World Health Organization from 1998 to 2003.

The report said Breivik made the remarks under questioning by police in advance of a court hearing on Monday.